My mother, when her young sons misbehave in the house, takes oaths and does so frequently, swearing more than a hundred oaths in a day, and she does not fulfill even a small portion of them.
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The questioner : My mother, when my younger brothers misbehave in the house, takes oaths and does so frequently, swearing more than a hundred oaths in a day, and she does not fulfill even a small portion of them. What is the ruling of the Shari'ah in this matter? May you be rewarded.
The Shaykh : These oaths that a mother makes regarding her children, threatening them for disobedience, are from the category of idle oaths (laghw) for which there is no expiation, based on the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:[Al-Ma'idah 5:89] And in the second verse: [Al-Baqarah 2:225]. It is well known that when a woman says to her child, "By Allah, I will beat you," or "By Allah, I will break your legs," or "By Allah, I will do such and such," threatening him if he disobeys, it is well known that she does not intend to make a formal oath in this case. Therefore, this is from the idle oaths for which there is no expiation. However, I advise our Muslim brothers not to make many oaths, even if they are idle, based on the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He: It has been said that its meaning is "Do not make many oaths by Allah." I also advise my brothers that when they make a formal oath, they should follow it with "if Allah wills." They should say, "By Allah, I will do such and such, if Allah wills." If he says "if Allah wills," he benefits in two great ways. The first benefit is that it facilitates his matter so that he fulfills what he swore to do. The second benefit is that if he disobeys, he does not break his oath, meaning there is no expiation or sin upon him. The evidence for this is what is established in the two Sahihs from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): based on the strength of his determination, so that it would be clear to Sulayman (peace be upon him) and others that the matter is in the hand of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan an-Nasa'i 3856Sahih (Darussalam) And the evidence for the second benefit, which is that if he breaks his oath there is no expiation upon him, is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Bulugh al-Maram 1378 Therefore, a person should, when he swears, combine his oath with the will of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and say, "By Allah, if Allah wills," or "By Allah, with the will of Allah, I will do such and such."
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : These oaths that a mother makes regarding her children, threatening them for disobedience, are from the category of idle oaths (laghw) for which there is no expiation, based on the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:
Allah will not impose blame upon you for what is meaningless in your oaths, but He will impose blame upon you for [breaking] what you intended of oaths
لا يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ اللَّهُ بِاللَّغْوِ فِي أَيْمَانِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ يُؤَاخِذُكُمْ بِمَا عَقَّدْتُمُ الأَيْمَانَbut He imposes blame upon you for what your hearts have earned
وَلَكِنْ يُؤَاخِذُكُمْ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ قُلُوبُكُمْAnd keep your oaths
وَاحْفَظُوا أَيْمَانَكُمْIt was mentioned that the Prophet of Allah, Sulayman (peace be upon him), said, "By Allah, I will go around to ninety women tonight, and each woman among them will give birth to a boy who will fight in the cause of Allah." It was said to him, "Say, 'If Allah wills,'" but he did not say, "If Allah wills."
أنه ذكر أن نبي الله سليمان عليه السلام قال: والله لأطوفن الليلة على تسعين امرأة تلد كل امرأة منهم غلاماً يقاتل في سبيل الله، فقيل له: قل: إن شاء الله فلم يقل: إن شاء اللهSo he went around to ninety women that night, and none of them gave birth except one who gave birth to half a human being.
فطاف على تسعين امرأة في تلك الليلة، فلم تلد واحدة منهن إلا واحدة ولدت شق إنسانIf he had said: 'If Allah wills,' he would not have broken his vow, and this would have been a means to help him to get what he wanted.
فلو قال: إن شاء الله لم يحنث، وكان دركاً لحاجته، ولقاتلوا في سبيل اللهWhoever swears an oath, and then says: "If Allah Wills", he is not held accountable if he breaks it.
من حلف على يمين فقال: إن شاء الله فلا حنث عليهThe questioner : May Allah reward you with good.